Learning Journal 9

In the section we read of Agar's book Culture Blends the quote "Culture has to do with who you are" was an interesting way to think about culture. Truly culture has to do with who we are. I think that is a very accurate statement because even though there are different cultures around the world our specific culture is defined as who we are. I liked the example in class Dallin used about how we are all Americans but yet there were many different ways in how we would deal with certain situations. He made the point that it is important to remember that even though we are going into a Tongan culture everyone is different. Although they might believe and do somethings the same they are all different. It was interesting for me to think about culture that way because I always thought culture was just how a group of people believed, thought, and acted. I think everyone belongs to a certain culture but they also have their own culture and way of doing things that has to do with how they were raised.

Learning Journal 8

I have been thinking a lot about Dallin's idea for my project. It does seem like an interesting idea that I haven't thought about. I never thought of studying how people get physically active and what things may prevent them from being physically active. This idea does come somewhat as a relief because I was questioning my project and how I would go about asking people why they are fat and not doing anything about it. Observing and interviewing people about how they are physically active is a much better alternative. This also means I have a lot of thinking to do. I read an article about one of the reasons adults become obese. It said its because once they are older they stop doing hard labor or things around the house. They stop and their kids take over. After that they don't get much physical exercise and sit a lot. This caused me to question whether giving all the responsibility to the kids is the best option. It is good because it teaches them about responsibility and about hard work but does it come with a cost to the parents? Is turning the work over to the children really one of the reasons the parents become obese or is it because of the parents own choices? These were just some questions and thoughts I had when I read the article.

Learning Journal 7

I have been thinking about my project and how I can develop it further. I have also been thinking about some questions I could study while I am down in Tonga. A couple of questions that occurred to me were: Does gender play a huge roll in the obesity problem down there? Is one gender more likely to become obese or is one gender more obese than the other? If so, why? Is childhood obesity as big a problem as obesity is with adults or is childhood obesity a problem in Tonga? How do the children view obesity? These were just some questions that were floating around in my head today as I was doing some research. I think the next thing I need to focus on in my project is organizing the format and figuring out the things I want to do and how I am going to do them once I get down there...

Learning Journal 6

I read an article written by a guy that went to Tonga on an assignment to figure out why the problem of obesity is getting worse in the Pacific Islands. His discoveries didn't surprise me all that much. It was definitely more informative. One part did make me think however. He said that one of the reasons that the obesity problem has gotten worse is because things that used to keep them active are no longer practiced. Gates explained, "Fishing and farming used to keep Tongans active but fish stocks are low and the seas crowded with foreign trawlers, so few bother to venture out; and farming seems to be a dying art (the only farmer I met did it primarily as a hobby)". This made me think about how many things are caused because of other people getting in others way. It doesn't necessarily relate to the article I read but it made me think about problems that could have been stopped or contained if people just stayed in their own areas and didn't encroach on others space. If those "foreign trawlers" stayed in their own waters then Tongans would have continued to be active and fish. Maybe obesity wouldn't be such a huge problem now. They would have stayed active and had fish in their diets. I don't really know exactly where I'm going with this thought cause I apparently can't transfer this thought to paper very well. But it is interesting to look around and see what things could be different if people stay where they are supposed to. Just an interesting thing to think about....

Learning Journal 5

I have been thinking about ways I can expand my project specifically what topics related to obesity I can study. Also what topics I should consider as I research my project here in the U.S. and what topics to consider once I am in the field. I read "Obesity in Pacific Islands", an article about the prevalence of obesity in the Pacific Islands, and it helped me to get an idea of topics to study. Some of them were the amount of physical activity Tongans get, secular trends in dealing with obesity or becoming obese, a traditional Tongan diet, any cultural and socioeconomic factors associated with obesity, the age in which obesity increases or starts, obesity and mortality rates, and trying to compare obesity to other factors. I realized I still need to get a lot more information about these topics. But I do think it is important to start thinking about how these factors might change in the specific location I will be researching in. Things like the prevalence of obesity in Tongatapu might be different then the prevalence of obesity in Va'vau or in Ha'apai.

Learning Journal 4

The last couple of days I have been reflecting on my project and idea. I think it is a good topic and could be really interesting to study in Tonga. The only thing that troubles me is the field research part of my project. I'm not sure how I am going to research. I can observe people and their day to day activity but I think the best way to get the best research is from actually talking to people and interviewing them about my topic. I don't think I would have a problem with talking to people. I just don't know if I it would be socially acceptable to ask people about being obese. Obesity is generally a touchy subject to talk about. From my research about obesity Tongans are not ashamed of their weight and are almost proud to be overweight. If this is true then talking about obesity shouldn't be a problem. Or maybe the reason they are overweight is because it is the social norm and the bigger the better truly is what Tongans think. Given that information maybe a lot of Tongan's are secretly ashamed of being obese but don't show it or change because of the social norm. If that is the case then they won't want to talk about their weight and would be offended if I tried. These are just thoughts that have been running through my head. Hopefully as I get a better understanding of their culture and way of thinking I will be able to get a better idea of how to do research when I finally get to Tonga! :)

Learning Journal 3

While I was researching obesity in Tonga this week I found out that a lot of people are obese. Not only are they obese but the bigger the better. If you are skinny you are looked down upon. A lot of obese people don't like being obese but they don't want to change. They said it is because that is how it is done and has always been done so that is how it will always be done. It is the Tongan way. It made me really think about my own life and if I do things just because that is how I have always done it. I realized that I used to do the same things over and over again because that is how I always did things. Now I don't. I am not satisfied with always doing things how I've always done them. I have wanted to change things and do things better. An example of this is last semester. At the beginning I decided to make a change and try things differently. It was hard but I did change and life has been a lot better. With this experience in mind I think back to my earlier thought about always doing things the same because that is how you've always done it. I think it all boils down to change. Changing something about yourself is hard work. It is much easier to do the same things the same way every time. Tongans are obese and want to change but are more comfortable with doing things how they have always done. This leads me to a new question. Are Tongans too comfortable being obese to change their habits or is it truly the Tongan way?

Learning Journal 2

The time I spent today doing research was very productive. I couldn't really find anything related to my project but it was productive in the sense that it helped me to narrow down my project ideas. My project originally was going to be about the physical education programs in the schools. Upon further research I discovered that no emphasis is really put that heavily on physical activity in a formal education. I realized that I needed to maybe research the effects of not having physical education in the school system. Also I found out that obesity is a big problem in Tonga. I could also research that aspect of their culture and go into childhood obesity as well. Here is a rough plan of how my project might go:

Project ideas

-obesity

-cultural reasons for obesity

-causes

-food choices/availability

-cultural causes

-effects

-problems with obesity

-associated diseases

-prevention

-choices

-physical activity

-culture

-obesity in children

-cultural differences between male and females

-emphasis on physical education?

Learning Journal 1

Learning Journal 1

I am really excited for this class and ultimately to go to Tonga! I’m going to be honest and say that I am not really sure what my project is going to be and exactly what I am going to be doing in Tonga while I am there. I do have a faint idea but I definitely need to do more research to develop my project more.

During class we talked about the article “What Students Don’t Learn Abroad”. Ashley raised an interesting question. She asked if we live in a questioning culture or society. I thought about her question and I think we don’t live in a questioning society. Many people live their own lives and don’t really care about what happens around them. They don’t question why something happens or even how other people might do things differently. They do things their own way.

I took this thought a step further and thought about my own life and if I question things around me. I realized that I do what everyone else has done and don’t question things. I am comfortable doing what other people tell me to do. I asked my friend what he thought about the question and he says he questions a lot of things because he finds he learns better that way. He discovers things for himself by questioning things around him and finds answers to his questions on his own. I guess the answer to Ashley’s question is that it depends on the person. My friend lives in a questioning world because he makes it that way. In my case I live in a very unquestioning world because I choose not to question the world around me.